Cowdenbeath 0, Arbroath 2.

Ladbrokes League 2

Attendance-317

TWO late goals gave Arbroath the verdict but again both came from costly errors.

A strong wind made life difficult for defences, at Central Park on Saturday, but both back lines worked hard throughout the 90 minutes.

Cowden had chances to get in front but were denied by two goal-line clearances and they paid the penalty when normally reliable skipper, Dave McGurn, made a hash of a shot and the ball deflected into the net.

That gave the Red Lichties the chance to up the momentum and they scored again when the home defence failed to pick up the dangerous Steven Doris.

All in all another disappointing day for Cowden and it leaves them very much rooted to the bottom of the table.

The defence did pretty well in difficult windy conditions, but the second goal should have been avoided while the midfield, which did so well against Forfar, lacked poise and too often lofted the ball forward rather than look for a pass.

Without Jamie Pyper Shaun Rutherford slotted into the home defence and in two minutes Arbroath got a free-kick 20 yards out after Doris was fouled by Gerry McLauchlan and Josh Skelly’s free-kick hit the top of the home bar.

However, in nine minutes Moore’s shot took a deflection off a visiting defender and went just over.

With wind advantage Arbroath looked dangerous and a Bobby Linn shot was met by Bryan Prunty and his flick rolled just wide before Skelly’s cross-cum shot from 18 yards hit the bar and bounced clear.

Arbroath kept pressing and McGurn punched a corner off his line but in 28 minutes a long Nikolay Todorov throw was flicked on by Kris Renton and Brian Ross fired just over.

But on the half hour another good move from the visitors saw Doris fire inches wide.

Ten minutes from the break a fine move down the right by Cowdenbeath saw a Kyle Miller cross which seemed perfect for Renton but a fine piece of work by Ricky Gomes finger-tipped the ball to safety.

In the closing five minutes of the half Arbroath pressed hard for a goal but some good defending kept them out.

In 54 minutes Cammy Muirhead’s low cross reached Lewis Moore and his shot was blocked on the line by David Gold.

Then nine minutes later McGurn made a brilliant save from a close in Colin Hamilton header.

Then in 67 minutes Renton’s low shot beat Gomes but was blocked on the line by Mark Whatley.

However, 17 minutes from time the Lichties took the lead and it was a disaster for home skipper McGurn. SKELLY got space 17 yards out and his low shot seemed to be the ‘keeper’s but he misjudged it and the ball hit him and flew into the net.

Then seven minutes later they game was over. Skelly’s cross was met at the far post by DORIS and he slipped the ball into the net.

Cowdenbeath: Dave McGurn (6); Dean Brett (6), Lewis Moore (7); Gerry McLauchlan (6), Nikolay Todorov (7), Shaun Rutherford (6); Fraser Mullen (6), Kyle Miller (7), Cammy Muirhead (7) (Craig Johnston (84 (2)), Kris Renton (6), Brian Ross (7) (David Robertson 80 (2)). Subs not used, Burton O’Brien, Jamie Pyper, Aaron Murrell, Gary Glen and Jamie Sneddon.

Arbroath: Gomes (7); Gold (6), Phillips (6); Little (6), Hamilton (7), Whatley (7); Skelly (7), McCord (7) (Gavin Malin 89 (2)), Doris (6), Prunty (6) (Kadar 76 (3)), Linn (7) (Callaghan 89 (2)). Subs not used, Dunlop, Hester, Thomson and Douglas.

Referee-Alan Newlands (6).